Thursday, August 26, 1999 Published at 17:30 GMT 18:30 UKEntertainmentCartman top with kidsRole model? Me? South Park's Cartman takes centre stageEric Cartman, the animated outcast in the South Park cartoon series, has been named favourite personality in a poll of children.

The children polled, aged between eight and nine years old, put the irreverent cartoon rascals on a par with more traditional role models such as soccer ace David Beckham and pop sensation Britney Spears.

Courteney Cox perked up by poll vote

The cast of US sitcom Friends also fared well in the vote. Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox both managed respectable placings in the final table.

The success of Cartman and Kenny, sources of the more risqué jokes in the cult animation, came at the expense of figures in mainstream children's television.

Blue Peter presenter Katy Hill was the only figure in the top 10 personalities to represent a show specifically aimed at children.

Traditionalists may be heartened to hear that secret agent James Bond still enjoys the admiration of young people - 007 scraped in at number 10.

Despite the vote of confidence in their heroes, children will not be allowed to see the latest instalment of Cartman and Kelly's adventures. The new South Park film, opening on 27 August, has been given a 15 certificate in the UK.

Kenny lost for words at seventh place

South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut ran into trouble in the United States, with the censor cutting scenes to remove bad language.

"Every time they made us cut something, we added something that was 10 times worse," said a defiant Trey Parker, one of the twentysomethings behind the cult show.

A US company named the film the most profane film ever, out-swearing the previous title-holder Pulp Fiction.